chapter 3

Boss and Sheng Bianyan used to be college classmates and roommates.

How to describe their relationship?

Not too close, not too distant; neither particularly good nor bad.

Occasionally, they would make a phone call, collaborate on some school-enterprise projects, or attend a dinner with a client together.

But they weren’t close enough to share everything with each other.

At most, they were just old acquaintances who happened to be business partners.

When Boss was answering the police’s questions,

my gaze fell on the steaming teapot, my heart still calming from the earlier shock.

“Sheng Bianyan liked being alone, wasn’t fond of socializing, and hadn’t dated or had a partner for years. So when I heard he started going on blind dates, I was surprised and called him to ask a few questions. I suppose it was a kind of concern between friends.”

“As for why I called Rui Man’s phone, it’s because Sheng Bianyan usually kept his phone on silent during class. Normally, I’d send him a message and wait for him to reply. Yesterday, I thought Xiao Rui happened to be looking for him, and besides, I’d have to search for Sheng Bianyan’s number, but Xiao Rui’s was the first in my call log, so I instinctively called her.”

Boss’s voice was steady and calm.

Just like the man himself.

The teapot lid rattled as the water boiled.

He picked up the pot, ready to pour tea for the police.

The police officer stood up, declined the offer, and said they might be in touch again if there were further questions.

Boss nodded with a somber expression, saying we would cooperate with the police investigation at any time.

I walked the two officers out, and as I turned to close the door, I glanced back unintentionally.

Boss was pouring tea for himself.

Amidst the swirling steam, his hand seemed to tremble, and the scalding water splashed onto the back of his hand.

He didn’t move at all.

……

Despite the school’s repeated orders prohibiting teachers and students from spreading information about the case, Sheng Bianyan’s death was so bizarre that word still got out, sparking heated discussion online.

People analyzed and speculated from every angle-

Some said the murderer had been hiding in the restroom, waited until everyone arrived, then blended in as a bystander, turning it into a locked-room murder case.

Some said a hacker had infiltrated the camera system, and the killer brazenly committed the crime and walked out just as boldly.

Some claimed that the lecture hall was built on a mass grave from before the Liberation, and the deceased was possessed, strangled by a vengeful ghost.

Others, considering Sheng Bianyan’s background-his parents died young, he only had a half-brother back home, no close family or ties-believed it was depression-induced suicide.

There were even analyses suggesting Sheng Bianyan had multiple personalities, and when he killed himself, it was his violent alter ego overpowering his main personality.

Despite all the speculation, a month later, the police announced the results of their investigation:

Sheng Bianyan died by hanging, with criminal involvement ruled out.

Reportedly, the internal police documents listed the cause of suicide as: Smiling Depression.

After the results were released, there was another wave of intense discussion online.

But public attention is always shifting.

As time passed, netizens quickly turned their focus to a shocking case elsewhere, where a mother-in-law had beheaded her daughter-in-law.

Gradually, fewer and fewer people discussed this case.

Whenever I thought back to Professor Sheng, I still felt a chill, unable to understand how someone could choose to end their life in such a way.

I even specifically looked up the explanation for “Smiling Depression.”

[Suicide due to Smiling Depression is one of the most concealed and dangerous types of depression. Its core lies in the patient masking their inner despair with an outward ‘smiling mask.’ Maintaining the ‘smile’ consumes enormous psychological energy, and when reserves are depleted, suicidal impulses often arise suddenly and decisively.

On average, those with Smiling Depression take only 3.7 days from deciding to commit suicide to carrying it out.]

At this point, it seemed the matter had come to an end.

Until one day.

Boss suddenly called me to his office.